An art gallery holds distinctive beauty within its walls; it’s a temptation to those who love art and its expressions of life. Starting a successful art gallery can be a labor of love and, most often, also a labor of time, energy and determination. However, the key to starting and operating a successful art gallery is found in the process of establishing the footprint of the art gallery in the months before the doors open. In this article, you’ll find the major elements that lead to a successful start-up for your art gallery, along with some secrets we’ve learned that will ease the way.

Research Your Audience and Competitors
Before finding the perfect location for the art gallery, seeking investors, or discussing a brand identity, it’s essential to learn about those who will become patrons of the art gallery. Who is your audience, in particular, and why will they choose to visit the art gallery? Do they appreciate modern or traditional art? Are the clients on the hunt for unknown artists? The first key to a successful art gallery is knowing what the clients of the art gallery may want or need. With this research in hand, you can determine how to blend art pieces into an art gallery that eager clients will want to patronize.

Researching key facts about competitors of the art gallery is also essential for your business. Determine how many art-related businesses are within close proximity to the gallery’s potential location. Study the art styles offered, the pricing models, the rate of customer traffic and other observations that will inform your research. At this point, list the unique offerings of your art gallery in comparison to the competition. You will want to highlight the unique offerings of your art gallery in order to successfully compete against competitors.

Build Your Business Plan
If your initial response to building a business plan is, “I don’t want to bother with a lot of paperwork,” our answer is, “Neither do we.” A business plan, however, is the backbone of success in starting and successfully running an art gallery. One of the shortcuts we’ve adopted mitigates the paperwork by using a template, such as the business plan templates offered here. Some of the essential features of a complete business plan include the following: financial objectives and operational plan, marketing strategies, and location selection for the art gallery.

Financial Objectives, Funding and Operational Plan
Securing funding is a crucial key element of starting a business and it is often the one most overlooked. Your business plan should include enough information to offer a roadmap for at least the first year of operation and details about costs; such as lease payments, staff salaries, inventory purchases, office equipment and other supplies should be included. This section of your business plan will offer both the present-day snapshot, as well as the visionary view, which will be especially helpful for potential investors or lenders. An operational plan will set the initial operations of the art gallery into place. Utilizing an operational plan from the first day of business will bring effective planning, communication and organization to you and your staff. As the art gallery grows, the operational plan can be expanded, as needed.

Marketing Strategies
The style and emphasis of artwork within your art gallery will establish your marketing strategies. For example, if the gallery exhibits new or contemporary art, the target audience may be young adults living in a condominium building. A pop-up art display in the lobby of that building might be the perfect strategy to reach new art lovers. Traditional art may be attractive to area homeowners who would enjoy attending a wine-tasting at the art gallery. In addition to targeted marketing, the art gallery website will be effective for a portfolio display, gallery announcements, an artist’s blog, and other inviting offers. Social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, can also be employed to announce new works or upcoming events. These art gallery marketing examples provide great ideas to start your social media efforts.

Selecting the Art Gallery Location
In addition to building a complete business plan, the consideration of the location is of primary importance. An art gallery deserves a large audience and a busy retail district is one example of a location you may want to choose for your gallery. You’ll want a location that invites plenty of foot traffic and parking, which is a bonus for your clients. Adding interior lighting that conforms to the art pieces will aid in generating sales and consider adding a sound system that will enhance the mood of the buyers.

Starting a successful art gallery can be a work of art in itself. Completing the key elements to create success, such as researching the target audience and competitors, building a business plan and choosing an excellent location, provide a powerful addition to both the start-up success and the long-term growth of your art gallery.